Defeat left lasting imprint on Army

WEST POINT — The video probably could have been dropped in the recycle bin of Army coach Rich Ellerson's desktop and never seen again.

Sal Interdonato

WEST POINT — The video probably could have been dropped in the recycle bin of Army coach Rich Ellerson's desktop and never seen again.

Ellerson said watching Army's 48-38 loss last year at Eastern Michigan made him nauseous. Quarterback Tyler Benz, running back Bronson Hill and Eastern Michigan rang up 577 total yards and scored its first of two wins last season.

Game clips were retrieved this week. Each position group watched a set of plays not as punishment, but as a teaching tool for Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan at Michie Stadium.

"You have to (show) it," Ellerson said. "It's a lot of the same guys. It wasn't to (tick) them off. It's crazy to watch because it's the same running back, same quarterback, a lot of the same offensive linemen, receivers. It's pertinent.

"It was painful to watch, but I promise you they are looking at that going, 'Hey, we can kick these guys' (butt).' "

Defensive end Bobby Kough watched the Eastern Michigan video, comparing it to this year's defense. Kough said upfront the Black Knights are not the same team that allowed Eastern Michigan (1-4) to score 31 first-half points last year.

"We're a lot stronger inside," Kough said. "When you line it up, it looks like two different fronts. For the most part, it's pretty much the same guys out there. We are a lot more mature and we are a lot more physical."

Army's rematch with Eastern Michigan (1-4) comes at a pivotal point in the season. The Black Knights finished the first half with a 2-4 record. Army needs to win four of its next five games to be bowl eligible before its regular-season finale against Navy Dec. 14.

"It's another must-win game," Kough said. "All of our goals are still within reach. We can still win the CIC (Commander in Chief's trophy with victories over Air Force and Navy) and still go to a bowl game. But, this game definitely needs to be one that results in a 'W' if we want to make life easier for us."

Eastern Michigan is seeking its first road win (0-12) against a non-conference opponent in Ron English's five-year tenure. Army may be without starting quarterback Angel Santiago due to an ankle injury suffered in the second quarter of a 48-27 loss at Boston College last week.

Ellerson said Santiago would play against Eastern Michigan on his weekly radio show Thursday night.

"But it's probably one of those deals where he can go out and play 70 plays and never missed a beat or he can go out and last for five," Ellerson said.

Whether Santiago is available or not, this week's matchup still concerns Ellerson despite Eastern Michigan's record.

"This is going to be a donnybrook," Ellerson said. "This team kicked the (crap) out of us a year ago. It wasn't a fluke. They kicked the (crap) out of us. "

Ellerson added, "When we've had these opportunities to take a step and play up a little bit and establish ourselves as that team, we have come up a little short. We still have this defining moment in front of us and Saturday is absolutely that defining moment."

sinterdonato@th-record.com Twitter: @salinterdonato

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